July 16-August 15, 2011

July 16, 2011 - August 15, 2011

Lead Stories

Church May Force Termination Of Trust for its Sole Benefit

Bank loses effort to retain trusteeship and its annual trustee fees

PA Court Limits Standing To Sue Nonprofit Corporations

Blue Cross subscribers are not officers, directors, members or “others” able to contest breach of NPCL

Nonprofit Officers May be Tried For Misuse of Gifts, Election Fraud

Court refuses to dismiss counts of indictment against president and executive director of association

Ready Reference

Supporting Organizations Qualify As Public Charities

Pension Protection Act of 2006 imposed significant new limitations on activities

Issue Notes

To the Point

Can I stay on salary as PR & advocate?

I am the founder of a 501(c)(3) group home for individuals with autism, founded for my grandson who is autistic, and others like him. I decided to step down as executive director. I never paid myself more than $2,000/mo. I wanted to stay on salary as PR & advocate. The board says I cannot because of the new employment law. I'm Founder, was executive director & my grandson lives there. Is this correct? They now will not let me see financials, minutes or anything even though it is public information. I live on my Social Security & my husband's retirement & don't have enough money to live on.

Lessons from Litigation

Bishop lacks standing to challenge cy pres ruling

May church pay pastor $635,000 back compensation on dissolution?

Tax Matters

Pastor must pay more tax, not fraud penalty

Employment Law

Solicitor may sue for retaliatory discharge

Exec may sue for fraudulent inducement of job contract

May Webinar

Getting Beyond a
Semi-Functional Board
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
1:30-3:00 PM ET

Do you have a rockstar board?

Or does it limp along listlessly performing the minimum necessary to keep the organization going? Pushed by the CEO because no one on the board wants to be responsible for leadership.

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This webinar will help you get beyond a semi-functional board. By acting intentionally at every step of the governance process, you can improve your organization’s capacity, resilience and effectiveness.

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Nonprofit bylaw review

Don Kramer will review and comment on your own current or proposed bylaws

Do your Bylaws reflect the way you actually operate? Do they protect the interests of those who should be protected? Do they spell out clearly how to deal with governance issues? Or do they create uncertainty for those who have to implement them?

Most nonprofits don't spend a lot of time looking at their Bylaws until there is a question or a dispute. That's when you need bylaws that are clear and unambiguous, so your questions on how to proceed are already answered. That's when bad bylaws can lead to unnecessary controversies or even costly litigation. Nonprofit Issues editor Don Kramer will review your current or proposed Bylaws to see if they work for you.

Learn more

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SAY THAT AGAIN?

April 21, 2025

Those old enough to remember what it meant to say a story appeared “above the fold” on the front page of a newspaper may appreciate this story. People used to want to place stories above the fold because readers would at least glance at the story in the top half of the page that was visible when they picked up the paper before they looked at stuff that was below the fold and not immediately visible.

The printed version of the Philadelphia Inquirer had a four column picture and article about Pope Francis on the day after Easter that was written and printed before the Pope had died but seen by morning readers after his death had been widely reported. The fold divided the two-line headline so only the top line was visible. The top line said: “Pope meets Vance, then”

We can only imagine what readers were thinking before they flipped the page to read: “decries ‘the logic of fear’”

See our "Say That Again" collection

Special Report Available

Increasing Gender Diversity on the Boards of Nonprofit Eds and Meds: Why and How to Do It

This report provides a rare inside view on barriers women face to selection and success that are particular to nonprofit organizations and makes specific recommendations on how to improve the gender ratio.
Download the full report free

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July 16-August 15, 2011